UCLA Opens Pac-12 Play Against Stanford, Cal

Thursday, September 28

Los Angeles, CA

5:00 PM

UCLA

Stanford

Grayson Doody (photo: Ross Turteltaub)

Photo by: Ross Turteltaub

UCLA Opens Pac-12 Play Against Stanford, Cal

September 26, 2023 | Men's Soccer

Game Notes (PDF)Watch Listen Live Stats

UCLA (3-2-1, 0-0-0) vs. No. 4 Stanford (5-1-1, 0-1-1)
Date/Time: Thursday, Sept. 28 - 5:00 p.m. (PT)
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
TV: Pac-12 Networks
TV Talent: Christian Miles (pbp), Eric Wynalda (analyst)
Stream: Pac-12.com / Pac-12 Now app
Audio: UCLABruins.com
Audio Talent: Nick Koop
Live Stats

UCLA (3-2-1, 0-0-0) vs. California (3-2-3, 0-1-1)
Date/Time: Sunday, Oct. 1 - 2:00 p.m. (PT)
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
TV: Pac-12 Networks
TV Talent: Mike Fitzgerald (pbp), Thad Anderson (analyst)
Stream: Pac-12.com / Pac-12 Now app
Audio: UCLABruins.com
Audio Talent: Nick Koop
Live Stats

UCLA Opens Pac-12 Play by Hosting No. 4 Stanford, California
After traveling to Orange County for non-conference contests in each of the past two weekends, the UCLA men's soccer team (3-2-1, 0-0-0) returns home to Wallis Annenberg Stadium this week to open Pac-12 Conference play, welcoming in league rivals Stanford (5-1-1, 0-1-1) on Thursday at 5 p.m. PT and California (3-2-3, 0-1-1) on Sunday at 2 p.m. PT. Both contests wil be televised live on the Pac-12 Networks, and can be streamed through Pac-12.com. Fans can also follow along with a live audio broadcast via UCLABruins.com as well as live stats on uclalivestats.com and Twitter updates from @UCLAMSoccer.

Quick Hits

UCLA is 3-2-1 through its first six games of the season, with wins coming against Virginia Tech, Rutgers, and UC Irvine
The Bruins have scored four goals in two of their last three games, and three times overall this season
UCLA paces the Pac-12 in shots per game (16.2), saves per game (4.0), and fewest fouls per game (9.0)
Jack Sarkos enters the week as one of just four players in the nation averaging a goa- per-game or better
The Bruins' four goals vs. VT on Aug. 24 were their most in a season-opener since 2018
Sarkos had two goals in that Virginia Tech game, becoming the first player with a brace in his Bruin debut since 2018
Dating to Sept. 15 of last season, UCLA has allowed one goal or fewer in 18 of its last 21 games
Four of UCLA's six goal scorers this season had not previously recorded a goal as Bruins (Ochoa, Lepley the exceptions)
Sept. 4's result represented UCLA's first tie in a home game since Feb. 20, 2021 (a span of 27 home contests)
UCLA is 3-0-1 this season when scoring first, and 0-2-0 when conceding first

Last Week in Review
UCLA scored three goals early in the second half and never looked back in a 4-0 win at UC Irvine last Saturday. The result matched the Bruins' largest margin of victory in a road game since 2008 (last: 4-0 vs. Coastal Carolina on Aug. 24, 2018). Andre Ochoa, Jack Sarkos, Tucker Lepley, and Sean Karani all found the back of the net for UCLA, while freshman keeper Wyatt Nelson pitched a shutout in his NCAA debut. Eight different Bruins recorded a point in the win, with Lepley and Karani each posting three-point nights (G, A apiece). Ochoa opened the scoring in the 47th after finishing off a cross from Jose Contell, and Sarkos made it 2-0 at the 56:00 mark. Lepley nailed a PK just over three minutes later to make it 3-0, and Karani capped the scoring with a deft re-direct of a JC Cortez cross. Nelson made two saves as the Bruins kept a clean sheet for the second time in the last three games.

Sark(os) Attack
Graduate forward Jack Sarkos has been on a tear to open the season, scoring a team-high six goals over the first six games of the year. His 1.00 goals per game rate leads the Pac-12 and trails only one player nationally (Lipscomb's Tyrese Spicer, 1.17). Notably, his six goals would have led UCLA for the entire 2022 season. He posted five goals in a four-game span to open the season, becoming the first Bruin to do so Milan Iloski in 2019 (Iloski went on to lead the NCAA that season with 1.06 goals per game).

Notable Statistical Rankings
The Bruins head into this week's contest with strong marks, in the Pac-12 and nationally, in the following stats:

Shots on Goal Per Game - 7.17 (1st in Pac-12 / 6th in NCAA)
Assists Per Game - 3.00 (3rd in Pac-12 / 7th in NCAA)
Shots Per Game - 16.17 (1st in Pac-12 / 11th in NCAA)
Points Per Game - 7.67 (3rd in Pac-12 / 7th in NCAA)
Fewest Fouls Per Game - 9.00 (1st in Pac-12 / 13th in NCAA)
Goals Per Game - 2.33 (3rd in Pac-12 / 11th in NCAA)
Saves Per Game - 4.00 (1st in Pac-12 / 53rd in NCAA)

Last Year Against Stanford
The Bruins went 0-1-1 against Stanford last year, battling to a scoreless draw in the Bay before dropping a 1-0 home result:

T, 0-0, at Stanford on Sept. 15, 2022: The Bruins battled to a scoreless draw in Stanford, extending the team's unbeaten streak against the Cardinal to three games at that point. Kevin Diaz had the Bruins best look at the net, just missing a sliding tap-in attempt of a Constantinos Michaelides cross in the 55th. The Bruins weathered a dozen corners from Stanford.
L, 0-1, at UCLA on Oct. 23, 2022: A 71st minute from Shane de Flores proved the difference in a 1-0 Senior Day loss to Stanford. Diaz had a big moment for UCLA in the game, clearing a ball off the line off a set piece in the 68th minute. The Bruins honored seven seniors at halftime of that game.

The All-Time Series Against the Cardinal
UCLA owns a 45-18-12 record all-time against Stanford. The Bruins are unbeaten in three of their last four matchups against the Stanford, striking back a bit in the head-to-head matchup after losing the season series each year from 2014-20.

Last Year Against California
The Bruins went 2-0 against California last year, sweeping the season series for the first time since 2018:

W, 2-1, at Cal on Sept. 18, 2022: Despite giving up the opening goal at the 40-minute mark, the Bruins connected on a pair of corner kicks to take down the Golden Bears, 2-1. Tommy Silva took both of the corners on the goal-scoring plays, marking his first-career multi-assist game. Kevin Diaz grabbed the equalizer for UCLA just 30 seconds before the halftime whistle, and Jose Contell notched the game-winner in the 76th minute with a near-post run and header. The game in Berkeley featured intermittent rain throughout.
W, 1-0, at UCLA on Oct. 20, 2022: Cal played most of the match with 10 men after being assessed a red card in the 32nd minute, and the Bruins took advantage less than 10 minutes later as Jose Contell knocked in the game-winning goal off a Tommy Silva cross. Cal had just two shots after going a man down, both last-ditch efforts in the final 10 minutes.

The All-Time Series Against the Golden Bears
UCLA owns a 49-20-8 record all-time against Cal. The Bruins swept the season series against Cal last year, their first outright season series win over the Golden Bears since 2018. UCLA has been strong in recent years against Cal in Westwood, carrying a three-game winning streak and five-game unbeaten streak in home games against the Golden Bears. California is coached by UCLA alumnus Leonard Griffin, who won a National Championship with the Bruins in 2002 and was an All-American in 2023.

Take Your Shot
The Bruins have tallied double-digit shots in each of their first six games to start the season, including a season-high 19 shot attempts last weekend in Irvine. It marks the first time since 2017 that UCLA has had 10+ shots in six consecutive games. The Bruins enter the week with the No. 11 shot rate in the country (16.2 per game) as well as the No. 6 shots on goal rate (7.2 per game). UCLA is 3-0-1 this when taking at least 18 shots in a game.

Offensive Breakout
The Bruins have broken out for four goals in two of the last three games, and three times overall this season in just six games. It marks the first time since 2016 that a Bruin squad has potted 4+ goals twice in a three-game span. It also marks the first time since 2016 that UCLA has had a trio of four-goal games in a single season (the 2016 squad had five such performances). For the season, UCLA is averaging 2.33 goals per game, ranking 11th in the NCAA.